Refugee crisis likely to be exploited by jihadists

Facing a humanitarian disaster on top of economic hardship, the European Union is running out of ways to cope with the Syrian refugee crisis.  This highly politicized event, with undertones of racism and xenophobia, is yet another propaganda tool more than likely to be exploited by IS, al-Nusra, and the other jihadi factions in Syria.  In fact, IS has already staked out its position. In an article published in Dabiq magazine, they condemn those who try to flee its territory as apostates and sinners, blaming them for their own demise; fitting in with their narrative as the true protectors of Muslims and only legitimate Islamic government.

While this stance is to be expected by a group that terrorizes civilians under its control to keep them in line, the reality is that the crisis presents a golden opportunity to infiltrate jihadists into the West under the guise of refugee status. Nicholas Rasmussen, Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, is cognizant of the threat, telling the Homeland Security Committee in February that the Syrian refugees were a “population of concern.” While a vetting process for refugees seeking to settle in America is in place, involving personal interviews, biometric data, and cross-referencing with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, which is the only US-authorized refugee intake body for those seeking entry to America. There is concern that jihadists may seek to exploit loopholes such as existing family connections and the lack of US assets in Syria.

These tasks are complicated by the fact that some refugees are either missing or possess false identity documents.  While the US has a quota of admitting 70,000 refugees annually, countries closer to the war zone sharing cultural and religious affinity with Syria, such as the Gulf Cooperation Council states (Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Oman), refuse to take in any refugees at all.  Apparently, they recognize the destabilizing effect that a large number of refugees from a sectarian society like Syria would have on their own.  For example, Lebanon has admitted approximately one million refugees, most of whom have settled in the border region, where multiple attacks by jihadists against Syrian and Lebanese forces have taken place.